UFO Episode Discussions -- COURT MARTIAL

Hi all,

Unfortunately, we didn't have much of a discussion for our last
episode of the week (THE SQUARE TRIANGLE), but I see it's time to
move onto our next episode -- COURT MARTIAL. Anyone have any
comments about this episode? If so, please make them within the next
2 weeks!

--
Marc Martin, [hidden email]

Marc:

I would have commented on TST, but it's not in the first Box Set (A&E) and I
haven't seen it in years (or possibly ever).

That's my excuse. :)

Anthony
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Martin" <[hidden email]>
To: "SHADO Discussion Group" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 12:59 PM
Subject: [SHADO] UFO Episode Discussions -- COURT MARTIAL

>I would have commented on TST, but it's not in the first Box Set (A&E) and I
>haven't seen it in years (or possibly ever).
>
>That's my excuse. :)

That's not a very good excuse, Anthony -- The Square Triangle *is*
in the first A&E set... the first episode on Disc 4:

http://ufoseries.com/videos/usDvdSet1Discs.jpg

I purposely skipped over THE RESPONSIBILITY SEAT because it wasn't
included in the first A&E set...

Marc

Hands down, one of my favorite episodes! The courtroom scenes, the
confrontation between Straker and Foster in the studio, Foster's
escape...wow! Vladek Sheybal was used beautifully in this one too. Also, a
great use of the whole studio set-up (the director wanting to see Straker
about the theft of the plans to the lighting system and the whole industrial
espionage angle).

One thing, however. The scene with the SHADO guards chasing after Foster has
always bugged me. I mean, for such a top-secret organization, why are they
running around in the broad daylight in their uniforms with the logo pins
on!?

Still, a great episode despite the nit-pick.

Brian


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Ahh... imagine having UFO episodes that you have the joy of seeing for
the *first* time :O)

When I received the Carlton set from the UK... there were many episodes
that I didn't remember very well, because I hadn't seen them for many
years. But none that I had never seen (but it was still a blast to see
them, as the quality was so extraordinary).

You *lucky* devil Anthony ;O)
are there any other episodes that you (possibly) have never seen??

Jaime


On Monday, January 13, 2003, at 01:14 PM, Anthony D wrote:
Regards...
Jaime

http://jaime.net
http://bender.cc


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

YIKES!!!!!

Sorry about that! I thought it was way odd that you were including TST -- for
some reason I didn't think it was on the 1st box set -- but I guess it is!

Here's my belated review (TST)........

I'm going to make some random observations ....

1) was that an American car [liz drove] or was it supposed to be a "future
car" like Straker's? either way, it was rather cool looking. notice that they
drive on the right in UFO (though there are some exceptions here and
there)...if I'm not mistaken, England was supposed to "change lanes" sometime
in the '70s.....someone from over the pond can correct me on this. :) (It's
sorta like our move to metric -- ain't gonna happen :) btw, did you notice
that jack was wearing a seat belt? Very 2002!

2) Great miniature work.........

3) I don't think the mock-up Mobile cockpits (along with Interceptor and
SkyOne) are that well done -- unlike the Eagle which actually looks like it
works.

4) would aliens have a unique scent that a dog could pick up??
Hmmmmmmmmmmm....

5) The Mobiles don't have heat sensors (at least) to detect the aliens?? only
visual?

6) did anyone notice that Cass' (our very own Irish Cowboy Patrick Mower!)
soles were black even though he had recently stepped out of the shower??? :)

Alright, enough silly observations. To the best of my knowledge, this was the
first time I saw this episode -- I don't recall seeing it those 20 odd years
ago when I first saw UFO. I thought it was pretty good, but a little bit
contrived. I mean -- what did it accomplish having the "soap opera" in the
middle of all this chasing the alien stuff? What does it show us about SHADO
and Straker? That potential criminals can't be stopped in the secret war
against the aliens?? Couldn't SHADO have put an agent on their tail to monitor
them? How about an anonymous note to both Liz and Cass that says something
like "We know your plan to kill your husband (jack). We'll be watching you. So
don't do anything foolish." Even if they weren't really being watched all the
time, the note might have done enough mischief to break off the murder. Of
course, what's one death to SHADO? While I think that the
unusual ending was a nice departure, I just thought the story (soap opera
part) was a bit contrived to get that "Twilight Zone" ending (similar to
Space:1999's Earthbound).

I'm on the fence with this episode -- it wasn't bad, but once again we got a
drama instead of a sci-fi episode. I thought it was a little too neat how
Straker, et al. figures out what was going on with Liz and Cass. A slightly
better ending would have been for Straker and crew to not realize what the two
lovers were up to until after they had been released -- then show Straker with
a concerned look as the camera fades into Liz at the cemetary.

The Square Triangle: B-

Anthony

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Martin" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 9:21 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO Episode Discussions -- COURT MARTIAL


> >I would have commented on TST, but it's not in the first Box Set (A&E) and
I

Dear Group

Because I am currently viewing UFO for the first time on Television and need
to revise all of the episodes I have recorded 'The Square Triangle' I belive
was a rather odd one simply because I was unsure what really happened in the
end, though I did really enjoy it because it left one thinking.

Edward
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Martin" <[hidden email]>
To: "SHADO Discussion Group" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 6:59 AM
Subject: [SHADO] UFO Episode Discussions -- COURT MARTIAL

> YIKES!!!!!
>
> Sorry about that! I thought it was way odd that you were including TST --
for
> some reason I didn't think it was on the 1st box set -- but I guess it is!
>
> Here's my belated review (TST)........
>
> I'm going to make some random observations ....
>
> 1) was that an American car [liz drove] or was it supposed to be a "future
> car" like Straker's? either way, it was rather cool looking. notice that
they
> drive on the right in UFO (though there are some exceptions here and
> there)...if I'm not mistaken, England was supposed to "change lanes"
sometime
> in the '70s.....someone from over the pond can correct me on this. :)
(It's
> sorta like our move to metric -- ain't gonna happen :) btw, did you notice
> that jack was wearing a seat belt? Very 2002!
>
The car Liz drove was a late 60s Oldsmobile Toronado. For its time it had a
sleek look, which is probably why it was used.

Liz's car was a 1967 Buick Riviera. They were rather futuristic looking
in their day. They were also the first front wheel drive car made in the
USA. There was a lot going on with cars in UFO. Mostly you got to see
many sports cars for some reason. Straker had his 1966 type Mustang coupe.
I alway thought he should have had a GT type. Then he traded up to a Jensen
Interceptor after he married Mary and was setting up his movie excutive
cover. Then he got the Gullwing coupe. In Flight Path the two SHADO
operatives following Roper have a car that looks rather like a GT 40 race car
built by Carol Shelby. Jo Fraser drives a rented Porsche 911 and one of
Fosters lady friends is model shown posed on a Porsche 914 which was just out
when UFO was being filmed. Of all the cars in it only the Porsche 911 still
looked the the same way in the 1980's. I rather suspect the use of the cars
because they couldn't afford to have a new futuristic looking car made for
every guest character who had to drive something so they thought they would
give them something that would collectors item in the future and why it was
kept rather than getting whatever the latest model was.

James K.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

HEY!!

BTW- O.T. here :)

I know what a GT 40 is!!

HOT WHEELS!! Social acceptance!!

Explanation..... in 1968....

If you didn't bring the latest Mattel Hot Wheels toy car to school--

Boss Hoss 302, Jackrabbit Special, Lola GT 40, Chaparral, etc,

Well.... Let's just say this-- You didn't merit further consideration in the
scchoolyard!!

Thanks


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi, SumitonJD,

Sunday, January 12, 2003, 10:51:37 PM, you wrote:

Sac> Liz's car was a 1967 Buick Riviera. They were rather futuristic looking
Sac> in their day. They were also the first front wheel drive car made in the
Sac> USA.

Here's a pic: http://www.thefreewheelers.org/images/Marque/0401/large/1967_Buick_Riviera.jpg

--

Jonathan Andrew Sheen

http://www.leviathanstudios.com
Leviathan of the GEI (Detached.)
[hidden email]

"What'dya expect? I'm a New Yorker!"
-Anonymous New York Firefighter, 9/12/01

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony D" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO Episode Discussions -- COURT MARTIAL


> YIKES!!!!!
>
> Sorry about that! I thought it was way odd that you were including TST --
for
> some reason I didn't think it was on the 1st box set -- but I guess it is!
>
> Here's my belated review (TST)........
>
> I'm going to make some random observations ....
>
> 1) was that an American car [liz drove] or was it supposed to be a "future
> car" like Straker's? either way, it was rather cool looking. notice that
they
> drive on the right in UFO (though there are some exceptions here and
> there)...if I'm not mistaken, England was supposed to "change lanes"
sometime
> in the '70s.....someone from over the pond can correct me on this. :)
(It's
> sorta like our move to metric -- ain't gonna happen :) btw, did you notice
> that jack was wearing a seat belt? Very 2002!
>

I'm did some checking and the car is either a 1966 or 1967 Oldsmobile
Toronado. When this episode was originally broadcasted, I remember realizing
it was the same car that one of my school teachers had.

See links below for photos and details.

http://encyclopedia.classicoldsmobile.com/toronado/index.html

http://www.mrdos.com/1967Toronado.htm

http://www.bluemoongear.com/ArchCarPics/67OldsToronado.jpg



Ron

Hi Johnatan,
its been 36 years. At least I got the year right and the fact it was
made by General Motors and it was a front wheel drive, it just wasn't a
Riviera. I think I got them confused because both have a rather unique
looking rear window.

James Killian


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For me, Court Martial is a memorable Lt. Keith Ford episode....I'm thinking
of his struggle to explain to the court how his gizmo works, in
non-technical language...the look of anguish and self-loathing as he
realizes that he has failed Straker yet again at the end of his
cross-examination. I squirm every time I watch this sequence--an
uncomfortable, unblinking dissection of a man tortured by his low
self-esteem, exacerbated by years of workplace abuse and bullying. If
S.H.A.D.O. were to ever unionize I'm sure Ford would sufficient grounds for
a grievance against Col. Straker!

Also, the scene where Foster is evading the the S.H.A.D.O. guards by
leaping down into the gravel pit--he is airborne for at least three
seconds, and it's amazing that Billington (or the stuntman) didn't snap
both of his ankles upon landing!

Douglas

At 08:31 PM 1/12/2003 -0600, you wrote:

LOL! Nice try, but it is indeed in the first boxed set. Sorry. <snicker
snort>

-- Y


Anthony D wrote:
>
> Marc:
>
> I would have commented on TST, but it's not in the first Box Set (A&E) and I
> haven't seen it in years (or possibly ever).
>
> That's my excuse. :)



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Brian Lindstrand wrote:

> Hands down, one of my favorite episodes! The courtroom scenes, the
> confrontation between Straker and Foster in the studio, Foster's
> escape...wow! Vladek Sheybal was used beautifully in this one too. Also, a
> great use of the whole studio set-up (the director wanting to see Straker
> about the theft of the plans to the lighting system and the whole industrial
> espionage angle).

Yes, yes, GREAT ep! And the way I see it, this is where Jackson got
transfered from working for Henderson to working for Straker. He laughed
at the wrong time - LOL!

> One thing, however. The scene with the SHADO guards chasing after Foster has
> always bugged me. I mean, for such a top-secret organization, why are they
> running around in the broad daylight in their uniforms with the logo pins
> on!?

Oh, hey! Can say the same for the Mobiles running around with SHADO
emblazoned on their sides and even the SHADAIR planes. There's another
ep in which Foster is flashing his ID too. <shrug>

I absolutley LOVE the scene where Foster jumps through the mural in
Straker's office. The look on Jackson's face just before when he
realizes what Foster is about to do is PRICELESS! :-)

-- Y

--
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
Yuchtar zantai-Klaan | [hidden email]
I am not a number! I am a FREE FAN!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"An apple a day keeps the, uh ....
No, never mind."
-- Doctor Who
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
http://yuchtar.users4.50megs.com/
http://home.earthlink.net/~nunzie945

"Brian Lindstrand" wrote:
>
>
> Hands down, one of my favorite episodes! The courtroom scenes,
> the confrontation between Straker and Foster in the studio,
> Foster's escape...wow! Vladek Sheybal was used beautifully in
> this one too. Also, a great use of the whole studio set-up (the
> director wanting to see Straker about the theft of the plans
> to the lighting system and the whole industrial espionage angle).
>

I agree Brian - it is a dramatic episode with lots of tension in
the court martial scene, where Bishop definitely raises his game -
some good acting on his part in that one, no question. It seems
that Bishop and Billington often act better in scenes with
Vladek - whether it's competition, inspiration or his talent
rubbing off on them I don't know.

But my traditional nitpick about this episode is that Jackson is
a different character in Court Martial - Freeman evidently
loathes him and he doesn't appear to be part of SHADO. Another
irritating inconsistency.

> One thing, however. The scene with the SHADO guards chasing
> after Foster has always bugged me. I mean, for such a top-secret
> organization, why are they running around in the broad daylight
> in their uniforms with the logo pins on!?
>

Yes, a bit like the Mobiles with 'SHADO' proudly displayed on
the side.

I always felt that SHADO should have had a film crew standing by
- they could have gone running out of the studios after the SHADO
guards with cameras so it looked like they were making a film. :)

James

[hidden email] wrote:
> Liz's car was a 1967 Buick Riviera. They were rather futuristic
> looking in their day. They were also the first front wheel drive
> car made in the USA. There was a lot going on with cars in UFO.
> Mostly you got to see many sports cars for some reason.

Same with Thunderbirds - those '60s looking convertibles seem a
bit out of place in the late 21st Century.

James

Doug Carlson wrote:
> For me, Court Martial is a memorable Lt. Keith Ford
> episode....I'm thinking of his struggle to explain to the court
> how his gizmo works, in non-technical language...the look of
> anguish and self-loathing as he realizes that he has failed
> Straker yet again at the end of his cross-examination.

I have to say that had never occurred to me, and I don't feel
that he has failed Straker at all - I think he simply feels bad
because he has given evidence that might help to incriminate
Foster, but he must also know that he had no choice.

James

Maybe SHADO security has a special team that follows the SHADO operatives
around spraying liberal doses of amnesia drug in all directions :)

...now I came to the woods to walk my dog. What dog? Dog? Woods? Where am I?
Who am I? Do I come here often? Has someone been having a bonfire? What's
that distant rumbling sound?... err... ummm.... I think I'd better go lie
down....

Maybe they're at it now, and we just don't realise it! Best check the news
services for regions that seem to be suffering from unexplained cases of
mass amnesia or premature Alzheimer's...

;-)

-----Original Message-----
From: James Gibbon [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 12:18 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO Episode Discussions -- COURT MARTIAL


............

Yes, a bit like the Mobiles with 'SHADO' proudly displayed on
the side.

I always felt that SHADO should have had a film crew standing by
- they could have gone running out of the studios after the SHADO
guards with cameras so it looked like they were making a film. :)

James




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